Below you will find the answers to some common questions that Steven often gets asked, not to mention a few he's never been asked but wishes he would. If you have any of your own feel free to email him at: novakillustration@gmail.com. If you're lucky it might just get added to the list.

 

WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR MOST RECENT BOOK?

"Forts: Liars and Thieves" Published by Quiet Corner Press and The Literary Underground.

THIS IS THE SECOND IN THE SERIES. WILL THERE BE MORE?

Indeed there will. From its initial conception, the series was imagined as a trilogy, and as of the moment the publisher seems committed to working with me the entire way. There are however, no firm date on the release of book three at the moment.

HOW DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS?

There's no real answer for this one, as the ideas tend to come from just about everywhere. It's always a good idea to write about what you know, and because of that a lot of what's I write about - especially emotionally - is pulled directly from my life. Have I met many foul-mouthed, six inch tall fairies with handlebar mustaches and surly disppositions? Not so surprisingly, the answer is no. Have a met a few foul-mouthed people with slightly less hefty facial tufts, yet equally surly dispositions? You better believe it.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN WRITING? WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT?

Believe it or not, despite the fact that read a whole heck of a lot in my youth, I never considered myself much of a writer, nor did I have a ton of interest in it. Growing up I always had more ideas than I knew what to do with, but I never paid as much attention to the writing of those ideas as I did to drawing them. When I was very young I wanted to be a comic book artist, as I got a little older I wanted to be a movie director. When I got really old I just wanted to make some money. I have yet to accomplish any one of them. A few years back I started a blog and very literally wrote every single day. Eventually my writing started just a litte bit getting better - or at least slightly less sloppy. The moment I began using the correct version of "you're" I realized I'd turned a corner. Since then it's become as much a part of my day as eating, sleeping, pooping, and finding less hair in places I want there to be hair, while there's more hair in areas hair has no right being.

WHAT ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?

There are far too many to name. Based on the website for the book you're currently viewing I'm guessing you expect me to answer something along the lines of "The Lord of the Rings" or "Harry Potter." While I'm sure both are solid pieces of literature, the truth is that I've haven't read either. In terms of genre literature I tend to lean more toward science fiction than fantasy. H.G. Well was a big favorite of mine growing up, as were Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov. I spent most of my youth with my face buried in comic books, and I think there's no form of literature that gets as much unwarranted flack. I'm as big a movie fan as you're likely to ever come across, and I've wasted more hours than I should have dissecting everything from Hollywood blockbusters to foreign films you've likely never heard of over the years.

WILL YOU AUTOGRAPH MY BOOK IF I SEND IT TO YOU?

Sure, why not - as long as you send it with return postage. Maybe I'll even sketch you a little picture. If you were willing to plunk down your hard earned money for my little scribblings, it really is the least I can do. E-mail me if you have a book to send and I'll tell you how to go about it.

I'VE HEARD A RUMOR THAT SOMEONE DIES IN BOOK TWO. IS IT TRUE?

Wouldn't you like to know? Wait, I guess you would. In fact, that's why you asked. Too bad I'm not giving you an answer. That's right, I'm a rebel. Deal with it.

HOW DID YOU GET SO COOL? WHERE YOU JUST BORN THAT WAY?

Okay, so no one actually asked this question, has ever asked this question, or likely will ever ask this question. It would be awfully nice if someone did though, right? It would really make my day.